# 2014–15 Minnesota Timberwolves season

The 2014–15 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 26th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Timberwolves finished with the worst record in the league at 16–66 and missed the NBA Playoffs for the 11th straight year. For the first time since 2007–08 season, Kevin Love was not on the roster as he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, and their future first round picks. Despite not making the playoffs, Andrew Wiggins won the NBA Rookie of the Year. Flip Saunders returned to the Timberwolves' head coach on his second stint. Saunders was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in August 2015 and he died two months later on October 25, 2015, at the age of 60. He was replaced by former Timberwolves player and former NBA Coach of the Year, Sam Mitchell for the following season. Kevin Garnett returned to the team for the first time since he left Minnesota in the offseason trade to the Boston Celtics.

## Preseason
### Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 13 | Zach LaVine | SG | United States | UCLA |
| 2 | 40 | Glenn Robinson III | SF | United States | Michigan |
| 2 | 44 | Markel Brown | SG | United States | Oklahoma State |
| 2 | 53 | Alessandro Gentile | SF | Italy | Olimpia Milano (Italy) |

## Regular season
### Standings

| Northwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
| y-Portland Trail Blazers | 51 | 31 | .622 | – | 32‍–‍9 | 19‍–‍22 | 11–5 | 82 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 45 | 37 | .549 | 6.0 | 29‍–‍12 | 16‍–‍25 | 10–6 | 82 |
| Utah Jazz | 38 | 44 | .463 | 13.0 | 21‍–‍20 | 17‍–‍24 | 9–7 | 82 |
| Denver Nuggets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 21.0 | 19‍–‍22 | 11‍–‍30 | 6–10 | 82 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 16 | 66 | .195 | 35.0 | 9‍–‍32 | 7‍–‍34 | 4–12 | 82 |
Western Conference :
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | z-Golden State Warriors * | 67 | 15 | .817 | – | 82 |
| 2 | y-Houston Rockets * | 56 | 26 | .683 | 11.0 | 82 |
| 3 | x-Los Angeles Clippers | 56 | 26 | .683 | 11.0 | 82 |
| 4 | y-Portland Trail Blazers * | 51 | 31 | .622 | 16.0 | 82 |
| 5 | x-Memphis Grizzlies | 55 | 27 | .671 | 12.0 | 82 |
| 6 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 55 | 27 | .671 | 12.0 | 82 |
| 7 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 17.0 | 82 |
| 8 | x-New Orleans Pelicans | 45 | 37 | .549 | 22.0 | 82 |
| 9 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 45 | 37 | .549 | 22.0 | 82 |
| 10 | Phoenix Suns | 39 | 43 | .476 | 28.0 | 82 |
| 11 | Utah Jazz | 38 | 44 | .463 | 29.0 | 82 |
| 12 | Denver Nuggets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 37.0 | 82 |
| 13 | Sacramento Kings | 29 | 53 | .354 | 38.0 | 82 |
| 14 | Los Angeles Lakers | 21 | 61 | .256 | 46.0 | 82 |
| 15 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 16 | 66 | .195 | 51.0 | 82 |

## Game log

2014–15 game log Total: 16–66 (Home: 9–32; Road: 7–34) :
October: 1–1 (home: 1–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 29
@ Memphis
L 101–105
Thaddeus Young (26)
Nikola Peković (8)
Ricky Rubio (7)
FedExForum 17,731
0–1
2
October 30
Detroit
W 97–91
Thaddeus Young (19)
Nikola Peković (10)
Ricky Rubio (8)
Target Center 18,296
1–1 :
November
: 3–10 (home: 1–5; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
3
November 1
Chicago
L 105–106
Kevin Martin (33)
Gorgui Dieng (8)
Ricky Rubio (17)
Target Center 19,356
1–2
4
November 5
@ Brooklyn
W 98–91
Kevin Martin (24)
Thaddeus Young (12)
Ricky Rubio (12)
Barclays Center 16,302
2–2
5
November 7
@ Orlando
L 103–112
Kevin Martin (21)
Gorgui Dieng (10)
Mo Williams (7)
Amway Center 16,379
2–3
6
November 8
@ Miami
L 92–102
Nikola Peković (19)
Nikola Peković (11)
Mo Williams (5)
American Airlines Arena 19,735
2–4
7
November 12
Houston
L 101–113
Corey Brewer (18)
Nikola Peković (13)
Zach LaVine (9)
Mexico City Arena 18,996
2–5
8
November 14
@ New Orleans
L 91–139
Andrew Wiggins (20)
Gorgui Dieng (9)
Mo Williams (4)
Smoothie King Center 14,775
2–6
9
November 15
@ Dallas
L 117–131
Kevin Martin (34)
Gorgui Dieng (8)
Mo Williams (8)
American Airlines Center 19,730
2–7
10
November 19
New York
W 115–99
Kevin Martin (37)
Shabazz Muhammad (8)
Mo Williams (13)
Target Center 15,304
3–7
11
November 21
San Antonio
L 92–121
Anthony Bennett (20)
Gorgui Dieng (10)
Williams & Brewer (4)
Target Center 12,414
3–8
12
November 22
Sacramento
L 101–113
Andrew Wiggins (29)
Gorgui Dieng (10)
Mo Williams (12)
Target Center 13,191
3–9
13
November 26
Milwaukee
L 86–103
Corey Brewer (19)
Wiggins & Dieng (8)
Wiggins, Young & LaVine (4)
Target Center 14,710
3–10
14
November 28
@ L.A. Lakers
W 120–119
Zach LaVine (28)
Dieng & Brewer (7)
Mo Williams (11)
Staples Center 18,997
4–10
15
November 30
@ Portland
L 93–107
Shabazz Muhammad (28)
Gorgui Dieng (8)
Mo Williams (11)
Moda Center 18,843
4–11 :
December
: 1–14 (home: 1–6; road: 0–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
16
December 1
@ L.A. Clippers
L 101–127
Shabazz Muhammad (18)
Shabazz Muhammad (10)
Mo Williams (7)
Staples Center 19,060
4–12
17
December 3
Philadelphia
L 77–85
Thaddeus Young (16)
Gorgui Dieng (16)
Mo Williams (7)
Target Center 10,463
4–13
18
December 5
Houston
L 112–114 (OT)
Shabazz Muhammad (20)
Corey Brewer (7)
Corey Brewer (6)
Target Center 12,101
4–14
19
December 6
@ San Antonio
L 101–123
Zach LaVine (22)
Anthony Bennett (10)
Zach LaVine (10)
AT&T Center 18,581
4–15
20
December 8
Golden State
L 86–102
Andrew Wiggins (21)
Gorgui Dieng (11)
Zach LaVine (8)
Target Center 10,296
4–16
21
December 10
Portland
W 90–82
Andrew Wiggins (23)
Jeff Adrien (11)
Brewer & LaVine (5)
Target Center 10,337
5–16
22
December 12
Oklahoma City
L 92–111
Wiggins & Muhammad (18)
Gorgui Dieng (9)
Corey Brewer (8)
Target Center 13,557
5–17
23
December 14
L.A. Lakers
L 94–100
Shabazz Muhammad (28)
Dieng & Muhammad (9)
Corey Brewer (9)
Target Center 15,008
5–18
24
December 16
@ Washington
L 95–109
Thaddeus Young (29)
Gorgui Dieng (12)
Zach LaVine (8)
Verizon Center 15,823
5–19
25
December 19
@ Boston
L 98–114
Shabazz Muhammad (26)
Bennett & Adrien (7)
Thaddeus Young (6)
TD Garden 17,042
5–20
26
December 21
Indiana
L 96–100
Mo Williams (24)
Andrew Wiggins (9)
Mo Williams (10)
Target Center 12,687
5–21
27
December 23
@ Cleveland
L 104–125
Andrew Wiggins (27)
Gorgui Dieng (11)
Mo Williams (7)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
5–22
28
December 26
@ Denver
L 102–106
Thaddeus Young (23)
Gorgui Dieng (13)
Mo Williams (13)
Pepsi Center 14,516
5–23
29
December 27
@ Golden State
L 97–110
Thaddeus Young (17)
Shabazz Muhammad (9)
Zach LaVine (14)
Oracle Arena 19,596
5–24
30
December 30
@ Utah
L 94–100
Shabazz Muhammad (30)
Shabazz Muhammad (7)
Young & Dieng (6)
EnergySolutions Arena 18,947
5–25 :
January
: 3–14 (home: 1–8; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
31
January 1
Sacramento
L 107–110
Andrew Wiggins (27)
Gorgui Dieng (10)
Mo Williams (8)
Target Center 13,337
5–26
32
January 3
Utah
L 89–101
Wiggins & Williams (20)
Jeff Adrien (8)
Mo Williams (3)
Target Center 13,702
5–27
33
January 5
Denver
L 101–110
Gorgui Dieng (22)
Gorgui Dieng (12)
Mo Williams (7)
Target Center 10,386
5–28
34
January 7
Phoenix
L 111–113
Andrew Wiggins (25)
Anthony Bennett (10)
Mo Williams (11)
Target Center 10,547
5–29
35
January 9
@ Milwaukee
L 84–98
Andrew Wiggins (20)
Anthony Bennett (8)
Andrew Wiggins (5)
BMO Harris Bradley Center 15,480
5–30
36
January 10
San Antonio
L 93–108
Zach LaVine (19)
Gorgui Dieng (12)
Mo Williams (6)
Target Center 17,871
5–31
37
January 13
@ Indiana
W 110–101
Mo Williams (52)
Gorgui Dieng (10)
Mo Williams (7)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 16,781
6–31
38
January 16
@ Phoenix
L 99–110
Mo Williams (26)
Thaddeus Young (8)
Thaddeus Young (6)
US Airways Center 17,441
6–32
39
January 17
@ Denver
W 113–105
Andrew Wiggins (31)
Robbie Hummel (13)
Mo Williams (7)
Target Center 14,821
7–32
40
January 19
@ Charlotte
L 80–105
Thaddeus Young (18)
Gorgui Dieng (10)
Mo Williams (4)
Time Warner Cable Arena 17,989
7–33
41
January 21
Dallas
L 75–98
Andrew Wiggins (18)
Thaddeus Young (11)
Thaddeus Young (6)
Target Center 13,737
7–34
42
January 23
New Orleans
L 84–92
Williams & Dieng (7) (15)
Gorgui Dieng (15)
Mo Williams (10)
Target Center 14,978
7–35
43
January 25
@ Atlanta
L 100–112
Thaddeus Young (26)
Wiggins, Williams & Dieng (7)
Thaddeus Young (7)
Philips Arena 18,049
7–36
44
January 26
@ Oklahoma City
L 84–92
Andrew Wiggins (23)
Gorgui Dieng (18)
Williams & Young (3)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203
7–37
45
January 28
Boston
W 110–98
Kevin Martin (21)
Gorgui Dieng (14)
Zach LaVine (6)
Target Center 11,434
8–37
46
January 30
@ Philadelphia
L 94–103
Kevin Martin (19)
Gorgui Dieng (10)
Kevin Martin (5)
Wells Fargo Center 14,333
8–38
47
January 31
Cleveland
L 90–106
Andrew Wiggins (33)
Nikola Peković (12)
Lorenzo Brown (9)
Target Center 19,562
8–39 :
February
: 5–6 (home: 4–3; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
48
February 2
@ Dallas
L 94–100
Kevin Martin (19)
Nikola Peković (10)
Mo Williams (5)
American Airlines Center 19,989
8–40
49
February 4
Miami
W 102–101
Kevin Martin (30)
Gorgui Dieng (9)
Mo Williams (10)
Target Center 11,517
9–40
50
February 6
Memphis
W 90–89
Andrew Wiggins (18)
Thaddeus Young (8)
Ricky Rubio (5)
Target Center 14,388
10–40
51
February 8
@ Detroit
W 112–101
Nikola Peković (29)
Kevin Martin (9)
Mo Williams (9)
Palace of Auburn Hills 16,075
11–40
52
February 9
Atlanta
L 105–117
Kevin Martin (21)
Gorgui Dieng (12)
Rubio & Young (5)
Target Center 10,987
11–41
53
February 11
Golden State
L 91–94
Kevin Martin (21)
Nikola Peković (13)
Ricky Rubio (5)
Target Center 14,303
11–42
All-Star Break
54
February 20
Phoenix
W 111–109
Kevin Martin (21)
Gorgui Dieng (12)
Ricky Rubio (14)
Target Center 14,077
12–42
55
February 23
@ Houston
L 102–113
Andrew Wiggins (30)
Gorgui Dieng (14)
Ricky Rubio (7)
Toyota Center 18,240
12–43
56
February 25
Washington
W 97–77
Kevin Martin (28)
Nikola Peković (13)
Ricky Rubio (8)
Target Center 19,856
13–43
57
February 27
@ Chicago
L 89–96
Kevin Martin (18)
Nikola Peković (11)
Ricky Rubio (10)
United Center 21,635
13–44
58
February 28
Memphis
L 97–101
Andrew Wiggins (25)
Gorgui Dieng (9)
Ricky Rubio (10)
Target Center 19,356
13–45 :
March
: 3–12 (home: 1–6; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
59
March 2
L.A. Clippers
L 105–110
Gary Neal (19)
Ricky Rubio (12)
Ricky Rubio (11)
Target Center 18,239
13–46
60
March 4
Denver
L 85–100
Andrew Wiggins (20)
Gorgui Dieng (10)
Ricky Rubio (10)
Target Center 13,848
13–47
61
March 7
Portland
W 121–113
Kevin Martin (29)
Peković & Rubio (8)
Ricky Rubio (15)
Target Center 19,356
14–47
62
March 9
@ L.A. Clippers
L 76–89
Adreian Payne (16)
Adreian Payne (15)
Ricky Rubio (12)
Staples Center 19,060
14–48
63
March 11
@ Phoenix
L 97–106
Kevin Martin (16)
Gorgui Dieng (7)
Ricky Rubio (6)
US Airways Center 17,367
14–49
64
March 13
@ Oklahoma City
L 99–113
Gorgui Dieng (21)
Gorgui Dieng (14)
Zach LaVine (7)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203
14–50
65
March 15
@ San Antonio
L 97–123
Kevin Martin (19)
Justin Hamilton (10)
Lorenzo Brown (7)
AT&T Center 18,581
14–51
66
March 16
Brooklyn
L 106–122
Kevin Martin (23)
Justin Hamilton & Wiggins (10)
Kevin Martin (6)
Target Center 14,234
14–52
67
March 18
@ Toronto
L 100–105
Kevin Martin (37)
Budinger & Rubio (8)
Ricky Rubio (8)
Air Canada Centre 19,800
14–53
68
March 19
@ New York
W 95–92 (OT)
Kevin Martin (22)
Gorgui Dieng (11)
Zach LaVine (4)
Madison Square Garden 19,812
15–53
69
March 22
Charlotte
L 98–109
Gorgui Dieng (16)
Adreian Payne (9)
Kevin Martin (9)
Target Center 15,262
15–54
70
March 23
@ Utah
W 106–104 (OT)
Zach LaVine (27)
Adreian Payne (9)
Lorenzo Brown (6)
EnergySolutions Arena 19,911
16–54
71
March 25
L.A. Lakers
L 99–101 (OT)
Andrew Wiggins (20)
Lorenzo Brown (9)
Zach LaVine (5)
Target Center 13,438
16–55
72
March 27
@ Houston
L 110–120
Andrew Wiggins (31)
Gorgui Dieng (12)
Zach LaVine (8)
Toyota Center 18,322
16–56
73
March 29
@ New Orleans
L 88–110
Andrew Wiggins (20)
Adreian Payne (11)
Lorenzo Brown (9)
Smoothie King Center 17,576
16–57
74
March 30
Utah
L 84–104
Zach LaVine (21)
Budinger & Hummel (7)
Brown & LaVine (6)
Target Center 12,229
16–58 :
April
: 0–8 (home: 0–4; road: 0–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
75
April 1
Toronto
L 99–113
Andrew Wiggins (25)
Zach LaVine (7)
Brown & Wiggins (5)
Target Center 12,699
16–59
76
April 3
Orlando
L 84–97
Andrew Wiggins (22)
Justin Hamilton (9)
Zach LaVine (5)
Target Center 18,334
16–60
77
April 7
@ Sacramento
L 111–116
Kevin Martin (37)
Andrew Wiggins (8)
Zach LaVine (11)
Sleep Train Arena 16,770
16–61
78
April 8
@ Portland
L 91–116
Andrew Wiggins (29)
Justin Hamilton (9)
Zach LaVine (6)
Moda Center 19,499
16–62
79
April 10
@ L.A. Lakers
L 98–106
Andrew Wiggins (29)
Andrew Wiggins (10)
Andrew Wiggins (6)
Staples Center 17,880
16–63
80
April 11
@ Golden State
L 101–110
Zach LaVine (37)
Justin Hamilton (10)
Andrew Wiggins (9)
Oracle Arena 19,596
16–64
81
April 13
New Orleans
L 88–100
Zach LaVine (24)
Robbie Hummel (10)
Zach LaVine (7)
Target Center 13,009
16–65
82
April 15
Oklahoma City
L 113–138
Kevin Martin (29)
Anthony Bennett (9)
Zach LaVine (13)
Target Center 18,250
16–66 :
2014–15 season schedule :

## Player statistics
### Regular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Andrew Wiggins | SF | 82 | 82 | 2,969 | 374 | 170 | 86 | 50 | 1,387 | 36.2 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 1.0 | .6 | 16.9 |
| Zach LaVine | PG | 77 | 40 | 1,902 | 214 | 276 | 54 | 10 | 778 | 24.7 | 2.8 | 3.6 | .7 | .1 | 10.1 |
| Gorgui Dieng | C | 73 | 49 | 2,193 | 609 | 146 | 71 | 126 | 710 | 30.0 | 8.3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 9.7 |
| Chase Budinger | SF | 67 | 4 | 1,286 | 198 | 64 | 44 | 10 | 457 | 19.2 | 3.0 | 1.0 | .7 | .1 | 6.8 |
| Anthony Bennett | PF | 57 | 3 | 894 | 216 | 48 | 27 | 16 | 298 | 15.7 | 3.8 | .8 | .5 | .3 | 5.2 |
| Thaddeus Young$^†$ | PF | 48 | 48 | 1,605 | 245 | 135 | 86 | 17 | 685 | 33.4 | 5.1 | 2.8 | 1.8 | .4 | 14.3 |
| Robbie Hummel | SF | 45 | 4 | 742 | 134 | 27 | 16 | 9 | 198 | 16.5 | 3.0 | .6 | .4 | .2 | 4.4 |
| Mo Williams$^†$ | PG | 41 | 19 | 1,149 | 98 | 261 | 30 | 8 | 499 | 28.0 | 2.4 | 6.4 | .7 | .2 | 12.2 |
| Kevin Martin | SG | 39 | 36 | 1,302 | 142 | 89 | 33 | 1 | 779 | 33.4 | 3.6 | 2.3 | .8 | .0 | 20.0 |
| Shabazz Muhammad | SG | 38 | 13 | 866 | 154 | 44 | 18 | 7 | 512 | 22.8 | 4.1 | 1.2 | .5 | .2 | 13.5 |
| Nikola Peković | C | 31 | 29 | 815 | 234 | 27 | 19 | 12 | 386 | 26.3 | 7.5 | .9 | .6 | .4 | 12.5 |
| Adreian Payne$^†$ | PF | 29 | 22 | 720 | 158 | 30 | 18 | 9 | 208 | 24.8 | 5.4 | 1.0 | .6 | .3 | 7.2 |
| Lorenzo Brown | PG | 29 | 7 | 549 | 70 | 90 | 28 | 6 | 122 | 18.9 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 1.0 | .2 | 4.2 |
| Glenn Robinson III$^†$ | SG | 25 | 0 | 108 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 29 | 4.3 | .6 | .1 | .1 | .0 | 1.2 |
| Corey Brewer$^†$ | SF | 24 | 16 | 680 | 94 | 78 | 54 | 4 | 251 | 28.3 | 3.9 | 3.3 | 2.3 | .2 | 10.5 |
| Ricky Rubio | PG | 22 | 22 | 692 | 125 | 193 | 38 | 1 | 226 | 31.5 | 5.7 | 8.8 | 1.7 | .0 | 10.3 |
| Troy Daniels$^†$ | SG | 19 | 0 | 154 | 19 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 53 | 8.1 | 1.0 | .7 | .2 | .0 | 2.8 |
| Justin Hamilton$^†$ | C | 17 | 9 | 423 | 86 | 24 | 19 | 25 | 153 | 24.9 | 5.1 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 9.0 |
| Jeff Adrien | PF | 17 | 0 | 215 | 77 | 15 | 4 | 9 | 60 | 12.6 | 4.5 | .9 | .2 | .5 | 3.5 |
| Gary Neal$^†$ | SG | 11 | 1 | 262 | 35 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 130 | 23.8 | 3.2 | 1.8 | .6 | .0 | 11.8 |
| Arinze Onuaku | C | 6 | 1 | 68 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 11.3 | 3.5 | .7 | .2 | .5 | 4.5 |
| Kevin Garnett$^†$ | PF | 5 | 5 | 98 | 26 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 38 | 19.6 | 5.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 | .8 | 7.6 |
| Miroslav Raduljica | C | 5 | 0 | 23 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4.6 | 1.0 | .0 | .2 | .0 | 1.6 |
| Sean Kilpatrick | SG | 4 | 0 | 72 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 18.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | .8 | .0 | 5.5 |
| Ronny Turiaf | C | 2 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.5 | .5 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Timberwolves only.

## Injuries

| Player | Duration | Duration | Injury type | Games missed |
| Player | Start | End | Injury type | Games missed |

## Transactions
### Trades
### Free agents
#### Re-signed

| Player | Signed | Contract | Ref. |

#### Additions

| Player | Signed | Former team | Ref. |

#### Subtractions

| Player | Reason left | Date | New team | Ref. |

## Awards

| Player | Award | Date awarded | Ref. |
Andrew Wiggins won the 2015 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.